Vaulters Head to Austria for FEI Championships

Five days of outstanding vaulting at the FEI European Championship for Seniors and the 2025 FEI World Championship for Juniors and Young Vaulters will commence in Stadl Paura (AUT) on July 30 until August 3. In a competition which promises drama, creativity and wonderful horsemanship, the champions are far from already decided.

The line-up for the European Championship sees the defending champions in female, male and squad Vaulting return to the circle. Germany’s Kathrin Meyer aims to repeat her 2023 success and build on her triple FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final victories to win her another title, this one with Gesa Bührig and Capitain Claus.

Her main challengers come from her teammates, Alice Layher and Alina Ross. Ross, 2023 Silver medallist and 2024 Vice World Champion, had to take some time off at the beginning of the season due to an injury. She was back on top form to take second place at the prestigious CHIO in Aachen (GER) at the end of June. Layher, the 2023 World Young Vaulter Champion and 2024 Senior World Championship Bronze medallist finished ahead of both Meyer and Ross to win in Aachen and enhance the excitement, uncertainty and tension ahead of the Europeans.

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Switzerland has a strong contender in Danielle Bürgi. She missed the last championship through injury and has returned in perfect time to complete this season. Austria however, after the retirement of World Champion Eva Nagiller, will have to look to another for their medal hope. Cornelia Pikl may be their top choice to make the podium.

In the Men’s competition, defending champion Quentin Jabet (FRA) will start with a new horse and lunger combination, Othello Van’t Laarhof and Loic Devedu. Othello Van’t Laarhof has only three CVIs of experience, so it remains to be seen how he will cope with the increased atmosphere that comes with championship competition. Compatriot, Ruben Delauney may challenge Jabet for a medal.

Austria, too, has a great chance in 2023 World Champion Young Vaulter, Philip Clement. He finished an agonising fourth at the 2024 Senior World Championship, but this year he will also have the home advantage.

As always, Germany has a very experienced line up and will most likely take home at least one of the medals on offer. Stalwarts Thomas Brüsewitz and Jannik Heiland are forces to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to championship competition. Between them they have medalled every year since 2018, but the gold has been elusive. To win would be their greatest moment yet.

Davide Zanella and Rebecca Greggio will both compete individually for Italy and together in the Pas-de-Deux competition. The two-time World Cup Champions have a score to settle, having been unable to show their best at either of the last two championships. They are the top choice for the medals if they can make it to the competition in good fitness. Germany has two chances: accomplished duo, current World Champions Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne will battle with first time pairing Arne Heers and Jella Hamman to be at least the top Germans. Heers is no stranger to pressure and success; however, this is his debut contest against the seniors.

There are fewer teams entered in this year’s squad competition with only four travelling to Austria. Barring anything untoward the gold medal already looks to be heading home to Germany’s team Norka once again. They have been formidable the last four years and even with new team members their standard continues to rise. They will be chased by Switzerland, who present a new squad, as well as Austria and the Netherlands.

This, too, may be the result in the nations team competition. With outstanding individuals Germany will be hard to beat. Austria may turn the tables on Switzerland and the Netherlands will hope to seize any opportunity allowed to them to climb onto the podium.

FEI Vaulting World Championship for Juniors and Young Vaulters

The Junior Female class for the world championship is the most hotly contested competition at the event with 57 starters including a debut for Zimbabwe, Lupondo Ashley, and Estonia, Anna-Liisa Anson.

2023 defending World Champion Clara Ludwiczek (AUT) will perform against 2024 European Champion Josephine Vedel Sondergaard Nielsen (DEN). Vedel Sondergaard Nielsen will compete with Sultan EG who, despite only being in his first season, has risen to the challenge. Ludwiczek joins Antonia Mayerhofer and Fanny Seidl for Austria, all of whom have a great opportunity to thrill their home crowd with a medal.

Daniel Klotz-Dedora has high hopes of bringing home a Junior Male medal to Canada for the first time. He will fight off competition from the silver medallist from the last two years, Germany’s Lukas Heitmann who will be reaching for the gold medal but in turn faces challengers, specifically from his fellow countrymen Henry Frischmuth and Luca Fuchslocher. Italians Jan Stellahaegi and Ettore Arena were biting at the heels of the top three last year and might make their mark in history were they to take home some silverware.

The Pas-de-Deux competition is shaping up to be as competitive and exhilarating as ever, with ten combinations ready to perform. Germany has just one pairing, 2024 European silver medallists Felix Wöhe and Greta Helene Liebig. With last year’s gold medallists now aged out of the category, the way is clear for them to go for the gold. Looking to thwart them, or to join them in receiving honours, are 2024 Bronze medallists Evie and Milly Jessett (GBR), Austria’s Eva Koren and Julia Alber and championship debutants Flora Maurer and Larissa Jöbstl (AUT) and Lea Maeder and Lena Nyffenegger from Switzerland.

Sweden has high expectations in the Squad competition. They come into the event as one of the favourites having claimed the bronze medal at the European Championship 2024. They beat their Nordic neighbours, the Danish squad earlier in the season but only just, so the battle will recommence in Austria. Italy have also presented a strong squad this season and have been building towards this championship, coming ahead of the Swiss team at the CVI in Stadl Paura. That said, Switzerland always presents themselves well and have medalled at the last four championships. Germany too may take home a medal. Their young but mighty team will gain much in experience but also have a chance to succeed.

In the Young Vaulter class, the way is clear for a new champion. After a completely black-red-gold podium last year, Lisa Wagner (GER) is the only medallist eligible to compete again. She hopes to add another medal to her European Championship bronze. Her teammates Johanna Timm and Frances Nandy Moldenhauer come with huge potential for glory. They will face 2023 World silver medallist, Canada’s Averill Saunders, who has returned to competition following a year off.

Austria has a very good chance of breaking Germany’s domination of the top step of the podium; their 2023 Bronze medallist Anna Weidenauer represents the red and white alongside Leonie Koller and Jana Matuschka. However, Switzerland have also been performing strongly in this category. Noemi Licci has years of championship experience but contends with her compatriots Mara Hofer and Joana Bachmann as much as the rest of the line-up.

The Male competition will be a really good fight, with major players 2023 Young Vaulter world silver medallist Bela Lehnen (GER) and double Junior World Champion Sam dos Santos (NED) going head-to-head. They recently battled in Aachen, competing at 3* level, where Lehnen was victorious.

The pressure will also be on current European Champion Arne Heers to add a World individual title to his collection. He too cannot rest easy, as Jakub Roguski has ascended from bronze medal Junior level success and looks to match that at least as a Young Vaulter. Similarly, Frenchman Baptiste Terrier could make his mark at Young Vaulter level or could be thwarted by teammate Louis Dumont, who has been on top form this season.

A large contingent of young Canadians will be competing in the FEI World Vaulting Championships for Junior and Young Vaulters:

Individual Junior Females –
Naomi Klammer, Forte 4 (horse), Benita Julia Golze (lunger)
Jacynda Row, Iggy (horse), Christina Ender (lunger)
Katherine Van Den Bosch, Shannondale Jedi (horse), Pauline Riedl (lunger)

Individual Junior Males –
Daniel Klotz- Dedora, Lavalino (horse), Klaus Haidacher (lunger)

Individual Young Females –
Ryan Bracken, Bastion (horse), Tomasz Ogonowski (lunger)
Averill Saunders, Bold Statement (horse), Rob De Bruin (lunger)
Lynda Van Noordenburg, San Felice Z (horse, Christina Ender (lunger)

Pas-des-Deux –
Autumn Southorn & Bellaku Caleb, Iggy (horse), Christina Ender (lunger)

Junior Squad –
Autumn Southorn
Bellaku Caleb
Emma Ahnert
Annika Webb
Alyssa Gaudet
Selina Armenta
Jacynda Row
Naomi Klammer
Gozer (horse); Christina Ender (lunger)

With many potential victors, it is arguably one of the most open championships of recent years. Through years of effort, preparation and a sprinkle of luck, new champions will come to the fore. Excellent quality equine partners will be vital to emerge triumphant.

In any case this combined championship will be a moment in history not to be missed.

More information on the FEI Vaulting Championships HERE.

~ with files from FEI Communications